Fragments of Noir: George V Higgins

Showing posts with label George V Higgins. Show all posts

Saturday, 18 April 2026

His Rope

Eddie Coyle is a small-time loser at the end of his rope, but the marvelous thing about Mitchum is that he doesn't play him as a groveling, uncourageous man. He imparts to the role a quiet dignity the character in the book lacked. I think Mitchum radiates a genuine presence. Above all, you can say about Mitchum that he is.

excerpt from
Robert Mitchum : The Last Celluloid Desperado
Grover Lewis
Rolling Stone - 1973

image
Friends of Eddie Coyle
Peter Yates
1973

Thursday, 26 February 2026

Every Side Against the Middle

Politeness and bonhomie are strictly provisional and everybody knows it,which is what gives this film it's terrible sadness. In the miserable economy of power in Boston's rumpled grey underworld, Eddie and his 'friends' are all expendable, and the ones left standing play every side against the middle, their white-knuckle terror carefully concealed under several layers of nonchalance and resignation.

Kent Jones
on Friends of Eddie Coyle - 1973
Criterion